Money Follows the Person

DC’s Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Project (MFP) has been a pathway to independent living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since September 2008.

The District’s MFP Project is part of the largest demonstration in history funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This federal grant program provides support to States and the District of Columbia to shift Medicaid long-term spending away from a facility based system to one that offers services and supports in home and community-based settings. MFP allows individuals receiving Medicaid the opportunity to choose where to receive their services. DC’s MFP tagline, New Choices. New Lives. reflects this mission.

Currently the District offers MFP to the following individuals:

Individuals with intellectual disabilities residing in long-term care settings, such as Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/ID), who are eligible for the DDA Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver and

Individuals living in nursing facilities, who are eligible for assistance through the Elderly and Physical Disability (EPD) Home and Community-Based Services waiver.

To explore transition through MFP, an individual must be:

Someone who has lived in an ICF/ID or other long-term care facility, for at least 90 continuous days

Supported by Medicaid to live in a long-term care facility within the last 30 days

Person-Centered Thinking

Person-centered thinking is a philosophy behind service provision that supports positive control and self-direction of people’s own lives. DDS is working to implement this through training sessions and other agency wide initiatives.

Employment First Initiative

Under the Employment First philosophy, competitive, integrated employment is the first and overwhelmingly preferred option for working-age youth and adults with disabilities.